CHAP.

III.

to the Decads of Bonfinius'. Temeswar is considered as one of the strongest fortified places in all Hungary*.

(1) Vide Expugnat. Arcis Temesuari, apud Rer. Hungar. Decad. Antonii Bonfinit, p. 807. Francof. 1581.

(2) "Ladislaus confestim inde abiens, quam celerrimè petit Castellum, Temesuarum nomine, situm in inferiori Pannonia, opere naturaque te præsidio imprimis munitum." Script. Rerum Hungaric. Epit. Ranzani, p. 252. Francof. 1600.

1

FROM THE CAPITAL OF THE BANNAT, TO THE GOLD AND SILVER MINES OF CREMNITZ.

Moksin

Bad air of the Bannat-Komlos-Aspect of the CountryRiver Tibiscus-Segedin - Ketschemet Gipsies of the Bannat-their mode of washing Gold -Jazyges Metanasta-Pest-Comitatus PesthiensisBuda-Palace-Sicambria-History of Buda-Population of the two cities-Theatres of Pest-UniversityPublic Library--Cabinet of Natural History-Revenue -Botanic Garden-Town of Pest-Public BuildingsRoad to Gran-Remains of the Latin Language-Gran -Population

VOL. VIII.

Y

IV.

the Ban

nat.

-Population - Mineral Springs-Flying BridgeBakabanya-Situation of the Gold Mine-Rich quality of its Ores-Mode of estimating their value-Manner of washing the Arenaceous Gold and Silver-Entrance to the Mine-Road to Schemnitz-Approach to the Town Schemnitz-College of Mines-Chemical Laboratory -Students-Uniform of the Mines-Road to Cremnitz -Lead Foundry-Cremnitz-Gold Mine-Appearance of the Ore-its Matrix-Imperial Mine-Statistical account of the Mines-Process for the Reduction of the Ores-Crude fusion-Evaporation of the Sulphur— Enriched fusion-The fusion upon Lead-Purification Furnace-Beautiful process of separating the Gold from the Silver-Average Produce of the Mines-Assaying

house-Mint.

CHAP. IT was not to be expected that we should pass through such a morbid atmosphere as this of Bad air of Temeswar, without experiencing some of the effects of its bad air; for where the inhabitants cannot secure themselves from the attacks of fever, strangers are almost sure to become its victims. We were all more or less affected by it; but the servants, probably from being less attentive to their diet, were seized with such violent paroxysms, during the first part of our journey, that, after leaving the town, we could only proceed three posts, (May 6,) as far as Komlos. Here a calf was killed, at the door of our

Komlos.

IV.

the Coun

chamber; and within the same hour part of it CHAP. was served for our dinner. In this country, as in Flanders, the traveller has no sooner quitted one place of relay, than he sees the church belonging to the next, during his whole route. These straight roads in the Bannat are excellent, and the post-horses are generally good. The prospect everywhere exhibits immense pastures,. Aspect of with herds grazing; cows, sheep, and horses; try. or wide fields, without inclosures, covered with corn. Various aquatic fowls frequent the plains; among which we saw storks with red legs and bills. The Hungarian dress, commonly called Hessian in England, consisting of pantaloons, with military half-boots to which spurs are fastened, is so universal, that it is worn both by boys and men. The remains of small Roman tumuli, used as marks of distance along the old Roman roads, are as common here as in Turkey. At Komlos we were amused by seeing a party of Walachians, in a group, seated on the ground, playing with cards, noisy and quarrelsome; offering, together with their language, strong proofs of their resemblance to Italians, who are constantly thus occupied in all the principal towns of Italy. A disposition for gaming cannot well be considered as a national characteristic; because it is found in every

CHAP. country, however barbarous or enlightened : yet there are some tribes more universally distinguished by this vice than others; as the wild Irish, and wilder Calmuchs. Gaming is perhaps unknown among the Turks, who are nevertheless fond of amusements which exercise the understanding without gratifying avarice. The real truth is, that although youth and liberality have been considered as the excitements of a passion for play, the disposition is always an indication of selfishness; and it is for this reason that barbarous nations are always the most addicted to gambling.

Moksin.

River

Tibiscus.

May 7.-Campaign country, and good roads, as before, to Mohsin; a place remarkable only for its beautiful Greek church, which would be considered as a model of good taste in London or Paris. Thence to Kanitsha, where we crossed the river Theiss, the western boundary of the Bannat. By the side of this river, the mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer, at noon, stood at 61°. The Theiss is the TIBISCUS of Ptolemy, and the TIBESIS of Herodotus. By Latin authors it was termed PATISSUS'. It

،،

(1) Dacis, ut ait (Plinius), pulsis ad Patissum amnem, quem ego detractâ primâ syllabâ Tissum, vel ut nunc vulgò vocant Tizam,

accipio."